Bored just five minutes into the movie, he glanced at Alhaitham and grinned mischievously.

Poke.

He jabbed Alhaitham's cheek lightly with one finger.

No reaction.

Poke poke.

Now both cheeks.

Alhaitham’s eyes twitched, but he stayed focused.

Kaveh moved on to his arm, poking his bicep like it was a squishy button. “Alhaitham,” he whined, leaning on Alhaitham's shoulder. “are you even alive right now? Hello?”

Before Kaveh could blink, he was yanked forward with a surprised squeak, stumbling right into Alhaitham’s side.

“Wha—hey!”

Alhaitham didn’t even glance at him. He just wrapped his arms around Kaveh, locking him in place with an unbothered sigh, as if this were the most natural solution in the world.

“You’re fidgety,” he muttered. “Now sit still.”

Kaveh squirmed, tried pushing away, but Alhaitham was stubborn—his grip firm but not uncomfortable. It was warm, secure.

So unfairly comfortable.

“Alhaitham, let go!” Kaveh whined, though he gave up just easily. “You can’t just—trap people!”